John Hynes
Nov 08, 2021
John Hynes begins his new role with Pennsylvania Western University Nov. 8.
John Hynes, of Oil City, Pa., has been named senior vice president of Strategic Initiatives and Administration for Pennsylvania Western University,* the new institution being formed through the integration of California, Clarion and Edinboro universities.
Hynes currently is vice president for Finance and Administration at Edinboro University. In his new role, which begins Nov. 8, 2021, he will oversee PennWest’s Contracts and Administrative Services, Facilities Construction and Planning, Facilities Management, Human Resources, and Strategic Enrollment Management departments.
Hynes spent 15 years with Duquesne Light and Duquesne Enterprises, where his experience spanned utility operations, training, marketing, accounting, corporate financial planning and analysis, budget preparation, financial modeling, capital project analysis, asset valuation, acquisitions, strategic planning, and staff selection, development and supervision.
Hynes went on to spend 16 years as a founding partner with Excidian, where he developed and facilitated customized training programs for numerous Fortune 5000 companies, including Exxon Mobil, Michelin Tire and Southern California Edison.
In 2014, Hynes sold his portion of Excidian to join the Beaver Area School District as director of Business Services. At Beaver, Hynes and his team successfully changed the accounting software and procedures, food service contractor, transportation contractor, custodial and maintenance labor agreement, capital structure and capital plan, resulting in immediate improvements to the facilities and increasing the school district’s fund balance by $1.7 million.
Hynes joined the Edinboro administration July 2020. Since then he has improved relations with the Council of Trustees, safely increased the number of students in the residence halls by 228% during the COVID-19 crisis, and instituted changes to align auxiliary operations budgeting and accounting with Board of Governors’ policies.
“Operating strategically and sustainably will be crucial to the success of PennWest University,” said Dr. Dale Elizabeth Pehrsson, president of Clarion University and interim president of Cal U and Edinboro. “John has a broad range of skills and a proven track record of success that makes him ideal for this role. He is committed to making positive changes that will support the success of our new university.”
Hynes holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering from the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated summa sum laude. He earned an MBA with distinction from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University and a graduate certificate in accounting from the Keller Graduate School of Management.
* Pending approval by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.
Learn more about the future of higher education in western Pennsylvania at www.passhe.edu/integrations, or visit our campus websites: calu.edu/integration, clarion.edu/integration, or edinboro.edu/integration.